Mendip Hills AONB

TRAIL TYPE Walking Hill

GRADE imestone grassland is found over Moderate Lthin mineral soils on calcareous rock like limestone. These unimproved grasslands (they’ve never been DISTANCE ploughed, drained or fertilised for 12km (7½ miles) agriculture) are characteristic of the southern scarp of the Mendips. The poor quality of these thin soils and the steep, rocky terrain has saved TIME them for wildlife because they are not 2½-3½ hours worth cultivating. Instead they have been used for centuries for grazing which has helped to keep the turf OS MAP short. is a mosaic of turf, Explorer 153: Weston- scrub and woodland characterised by super-Mare & Bleadon hawthorn, blackthorn and bramble. Hill; The grassland is a home to a variety Landranger 182: of plants such as sheep’s fescue, AONB Unit Weston-super-Mare meadow oat-grass, the rare crested hair-grass, hair-grass and dwarf sedge, which is nationally scarce. Herbaceous plants such as salad burnet, small CONTACT scabious and wild thyme, 01761 462338 common spotted orchid, [email protected] pyramidal orchid and bee orchid and the rare spring cinquefoil are also FACILITIES found here. It is small Pub in Bleadon: Queens plants like these which Arms. tend to do best here, Post office with shop and thanks to the thin soil café in Bleadon. and the exposed terrain, the tendency for the soil to dry out in summer and the tight grazing by sheep and rabbits. The grassland is also home to many insects. Overhead, the majestic buzzard can be seen spiralling on the thermal air currents. These grasslands are nationally rare which is why Bleadon Hill and neighbouring Shiplate Slait have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Mendip Hills AONB

START/END DIRECTIONS & INFORMATION Bleadon Hill car park, OS Grid Ref ST 358 578 Waymarking: Look for the waymarkers wherever there are stiles, gates or changes of direction.

From the car park on Bleadon Hill, follow lane eastward and take HOW TO bridleway (1) towards Christon Plantation. GET THERE (2) Turn right, then right again and follow the bridleway down Shiplate BY BIKE Slait (3). Do not bear left down the West bridleway. Bleadon is 1 mile off Sustrans National Cycle Turn right on to track (4) and bear left towards the road near Shiplate Route 33 Manor Farm (5). www.sustrans.org.uk Cross the main road onto the footpath and bear right, westward (6), BY BUS towards Southhill Farm and Bleadon. Service 83 Worlebury to Weston-super-Mare to Enter the farmyard, turning right before footpath sign on wall and pick Bleadon stops ½ mile up the path on South Hill (7). from point 8 on the walk route Cross the main road towards Wonderstone (8) and head up Hellenge BY CAR Hill (9) until you meet the lane at the top of Bleadon Hill (10). Bleadon is signposted off the A370 south of Go left along the lane, then right through the houses, and bear right Weston-super-Mare along the eastward footpath through the fields along Hutton Hill (11).

Walk through the woods at the end until you join the lane at Upper Canada (12).

Turn sharp right (south-west), and walk back up the lane towards the car park.

What to see near Bleadon Hill & Shiplate Slait

• Superb views of the Moors and coast • Brent Knoll • Saxon manorial boundary Neil Ross